In Memoriam, John Eubank, CPCU, ARM

Last week I lost a dear friend and mentor and the industry lost a bright light. Many of my blog subscribers don’t know John Eubank but a lot of you do, at least by reputation. If you know someone who knew John or had attended a seminar or webinar of his, please pass a link on to this post.

John had been a leader in insurance and risk management education for the past 30 years through the literally thousands of seminars and webinars he had conducted across the country, quite a feat given that John would not fly. I won’t belabor his comprehensive resume of experience and accomplishments going back to his graduation as an engineer in the 1960s.

I first met John when he was with the Tennessee Inspection Bureau, an Insurance Services Office (ISO) predecessor. The Western Actuarial Bureau in Chicago offered an engineering scholarship at Illinois Institute of Technology which had one of only two 4-year degree programs in fire protection engineering in the country, and he visited my high school to see if there was interest in the scholarship. I had already enrolled in a local university and planned to be a high school math/science teacher. But I couldn’t pass the chance for a free ride at a top university, so I was the only applicant from my school and ended up getting the scholarship and ultimately graduating and going to work for ISO.

From the outset of my career at ISO, John groomed me for a management position, moving through a typical career path that led to me becoming the manager of ISO field operations in Tennessee and Kentucky when John was appointed a regional ISO Vice President. I can recall, as part of an ISO management development program, when John introduced me to delegation when he was still a state manager. To keep current on the industry, he had to review at least a dozen weekly and monthly industry publications, from Best’s Review to the National Underwriter. One of my tasks was to take over reading these publications and mark the ones that he should read. It’s a classic example I’ve used in management classes to illustrate how to properly delegate so that both parties benefit and one doesn’t feel dumped on. I learned an awful lot from this.

Prior to my move into management, he had “encouraged” me to get the CPCU designation and he taught CPCU classes for many years in Nashville before leaving ISO 30 years ago to start his own education firm, Professional Insurance Education, Inc. As far as technical knowledge of commercial lines policy forms goes, John had few peers. When it came to commercial lines coding and rating, I don’t think he had any peers outside ISO’s Jersey City headquarters. On top of that, like the late, great Don Malecki, CPCU, John was a trove of historical information on the insurance industry.

John receives a lifetime achievement award from the Mid-Tennessee CPCU chapter for his local, state and national contributions to the industry. Pictured with his wife Barbara.

I left ISO about a year after John did and went to work for the Insurors of Tennessee where we used John extensively for commercial lines seminars for over a dozen years. When I left the Insurors to join the national Big I staff and build the Virtual University, John was the first person I asked to be a volunteer faculty member. During my 17+ years with the Big I, John and I were almost in daily contact via the VU “Ask an Expert” service and our “G5” subgroup which consisted of John and me plus faculty members David Thompson, Mike Edwards, and Jay Williams.

John and I doing a webinar while vacationing in Florida.

John and I were close friends with Don Malecki and his partner Greg Deimling. We spent many weekends together at Greg’s lake home in Kentucky. While the spouses played, so did we…by sitting around the dining room table for 3 days debating insurance coverage issues, arguing policy form language, analyzing court cases, interpreting condo docs and construction contracts, and helping each other develop educational programs.

L to R: John Eubank, Bill Wilson, Don Malecki, Greg Deimling

In the fall and winter, John, I and our spouses could be found tailgating at Vanderbilt football games where we, of course, discussed the important insurance issues of the day. We had recently renewed our Commodore Club membership and received our tickets and parking pass for the coming season.

Tailgating at a Vandy football game. John attended Vanderbilt before transferring to Illinois Institute of Technology.

No one in the industry has had a greater impact on my career than John. He was a mentor, an inspiration and a friend. I and others who knew him will miss him. For those of you who had the privilege of being one of his students, I hope you will continue to be motivated and inspired to learn your craft and serve your customer base as he did. RIP, good friend.

A Southern gentleman.
For decades, John was a fixture at the Kentucky Derby, Indy 500 and Masters golf tournament.

Bill Wilson

Founder at InsuranceCommentary.com

One of the premier insurance educators in America on form, coverage, and technical issues; Founder and director of the Big “I” Virtual University; Retired Assoc. VP of Education and Research from Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America.
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19 Comments

Charles Ford
on June 23, 2017 at 1:50 pm

It is with personal regret I read this column. Don Malecki was one of the titans of insurance and coverage. John Eubank was likewise though I am sorry to say I had less contact and knowledge of him. There are fewer and fewer behemoths left. And even fewer to regret their deaths. None made today and never again will we see their like. Time can be a real painful task master but it is a thorn we all endure sadly.

My heart is shattered. I lost my mentor and friend. John was like no other. His passion was contagious and from the very first class I met him I felt a bond. He knew my grandfather (from the insurance world no less). John helped shape my career and when things got rough and I wanted to leave he would always have the best advice and words of encouragement.
There are no words to describe this loss. I will miss him dearly. John’s legacy will live on through all he taught. I’m so grateful to have known him.

I only knew John through CE classes at the IIAG, but found him the best instructor I had over my 40+ years in insurance. He was knowledgeable and brought practical examples to highlight his topic. He will be missed as an outstanding expert in all things insurance.

EUBANK, John O’Neal of Nashville was born on November 27, 1939 and passed away on June 21, 2017. He is preceded in death by parents John Howard and Virginia Garnett-Wilson Eubank of Nashville. He is survived by wife Barbara Ann Eubank, sons John Edward, Allen Dobson Eubank and daughter Ann Kiser Eubank. Grandchildren Hayden Dobson Eubank and William Hathaway and Christopher Hanson. Barbara’s sons James M. Dunn Jr and Casey Edward (Susan) Dunn.

He was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church where he served on Staff-Parish Relations Committee and as an Usher for over 25 years.

John graduated from West High in Nashville, attended Vanderbilt University and was graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology in 1962 with a B.S. degree in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering.

After graduation employed by the Tennessee Inspection Bureau that became the Insurance Services Office in 1971, and served as Regional Operations Manager for its subsidiary Commercial Risk Services, Inc. until his retirement in 1987. He then formed Professional Insurance Education, Inc in 1987 and served as President and CEO until his death.

Mr. Eubank was recognized as one of the premier insurance educators in the United States having served as a National Faculty member of the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors since 1976, a National Faculty Member of the Independent Insurance And Brokers of America (IIABA) Virtual University, and was the recipient of the Professional Leadership Scroll from the American Institute for Property & Liability Underwriters and the Insurance Institute of America. He researched, developed, wrote and published dozens of technical manuals and articles in business and trade periodicals.

His professional affiliations included Regional Vice President of the Society of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters (CPCU), PMLG of the Honorable Order of Blue Goose, member of the National Fire Protection Association, and member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.

Benefactor Life member National Rifle Association. He was one of the founders of Crocket Springs National Golf and Country Club later renamed Nashville Golf and Athletic Club. He was a Silver Beaver recipient from the Boy Scouts of America.

John was truly an inspiration. I remember being so excited when the Big I had him in the continuing education line up and could not wait to get to class. He was a one of a kind insurance guru and I will never forget how much I learned from him over the years.

John, like the rest of the G5, was like a walking encyclopedia. All you had to do was ask and he gave you more info than you thought possible. He wanted to share what he knew and I’m grateful he did. I am a better agent because of John.

John devoted his entire 55-year career to insurance. After 25 years of distinguished service with ISO, John retired and founded Professional Insurance Education in 1987. In the ensuing 30 years, John presented countless seminars and other educational programs. John had few equals in his deep knowledge of technical coverages, and his ability to explain coverages to an audience. His dedication to excellence was an inspiring example to many of his students, and to all of us who were his colleagues.

When I was an education director for a state Big-I association, we had a running joke about John when we were preparing seminar marketing materials to send out to members. We said that all we really needed to do was simply announce “Seminar by John Eubank,” and the attendance would be robust.

For anyone who attended his presentations, and especially for those of us who had the good fortune to work closely with John on an almost daily basis, “professional insurance education” equally describes both his work, and John himself. We will miss you, my dear friend.

With all the brightness in that room with John, Don, Bill and Greg I amazed that a camera could get a clear image. John’s passing means that the industry has lost another giant. My last class with John was in Jacksonville and once again students were amazed by his depth of understanding and his ability to convey the coverage (crime insurance of all topics) in an understandable manner. I am not alone in lamenting the passing of the great minds in our industry and am wondering if we are going to have more Johns and Dons in the future.

Thank you so much, Bill, for your wonderful tribute to a good man. I first met John following my retirement and move to Tennessee in 2000. Shortly thereafter, he and Barbara rode with us to the Blue Goose Convention in Williamsburg, VA. We have been very good friends for the several years thereafter. I, as with many, will surely miss him.

Bill, thanks again for writing very appropriate and informative information about John. We will be missing him, from personal and business standpoint, to say the least. A true gentleman and scholar. Regards, Billy Akin, CPCU, ARM

John Eubanks! The only man that could make a 3 line change in the CGL policy seem like the ‘end of the world as we now know it’, and make it a class you could not miss. The best Insurance instructor I ever had (apologies to Bill Wilson, Chuck Bidek, and Ashley Gold). Thinking back, the most valuable thing he taught was “How to read an Insurance Policy”. That wasn’t the course title, but if you paid attention, it would sink in. I will miss him. God, we need more like him today. Thanks, Bill, for the biography.

John, no apologies necessary. John, Chuck, and Chris Amrhein were presenters whose talents I aspired to. I think the seminar you’re recalling is the “How to Battle an Adjuster…and Win Every Time” program? If so, John and I developed that and my plan is to use that foundational information to write a reference book in the coming year that I plan to dedicate to John and Don Malecki, my two biggest technical insurance mentors.

One of the best CE classes I ever attended was, unfortunately, the only John Eubank class I had the opportunity to attend: “Commercial Pricing-Some Call It Rating”. If it is possible to be spellbound by the topic of insurance, I was spellbound listening to Mr. Eubank. I still have the class booklet with my written notes on my reference shelf. I also enjoyed his articles published in various insurance journals over the years. I do hope that someone could publish a compilation of those articles!

I am saddened to learn of the passing of John Eubank. I was honored to attend several of the classed he taught early in my insurance career. During a CISR class, he encouraged me to pursue the CPCU designation, which I started just a few weeks later. I completed the CPCU in less than 2 years thanks to his encouragement. He was a great teacher, and his death is an enormous loss to the insurance community.

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